Nina Jablonski talked to us about skin. One thing we learned is that those with lots of melanin have to recognize that they have a lot of natural sun screen in their skin, which slows the process of making Vitamin D.

I had the opportunity to ask Nina some of the questions emailed in (to jane@ted.com) by audience members.

Carter Burwell, Long Beach
Q: As humans in Northern latitudes lost melanin to adapt to lower UVB, did they evolve better DNA repair mechanisms to deal with UVA?
Nina: No they didn’t, and this is a real problem in the causation of skin cancer.

Kyra Gaunt, Long Beach
Q: Do you think that climate change will or is affecting people with lots of melanin adversely?
Nina: No, climate change is the least of the problem in terms of skin. Much more serious is the problem that people with moderately to darkly pigmented skin are more at risk of vitamin D deficiency when they stay inside a lot, or wear concealing clothing. This is also a problem for people in general with indoor lifestyles and who wear a lot of sun screen. The important thing is to make sure you get vitamin D one way or another and the safest way is through your diet.

Christine Sciulli, Long Beach
Q: Is eating Vitamin D as good as synthesizing it from the sun?
Nina: Yes it is, provided that you eat a source of food or a supplement that contains Vitamin D3, which your body can easily convert into the active physiologically important form. Good foods include vitamin D enriched milk, oily fish, and vitamin D supplements.

“We still live in a world where the color of our skin not only gives a first impression, but a lasting one,” says artist Angélica Dass. Dass is from Brazil, and her family is “full of colors.” She describes her father’s skin as “deep chocolate.” He was adopted by her grandmother, whose skin is “porcelain,” […]

Here’s a big question: If your cells were used to grow an organ in the lab, is it still “your” organ? On Monday afternoon, TED Fellow Nina Tandon (watch her TEDTalk) asked the TED community to weigh in on the question in a Live Q&A, and the conversation hit on some central themes of identity. […]

Comments (1)

Peter Daascommented on Feb 9 2009

It will probably take a lot more time to evolve our DNA repair mechanisms. Until then, eating more fish will have to do…